The 1985 bout not only made for captivating viewing in Rocky IV, as Sly Stallone’s veteran slugger weighed in to avenge his friend's death, but also provided quarry for a new instalment in the invigorated Rocky series.

Creed II found Michael B. Jordan's Adonis Creed, son of the late Apollo, pitted against the son of Ludgren's Drago, Viktor, played in the movie by Romanian boxer Florian 'Big Nasty' Munteanu.

Weathers, meanwhile, is set for a late career boost, thanks to his new role in The Mandalorian, the Star Wars spin-off TV series set to be among the flagship shows of Disney's new streaming service Disney+.

Carl Weathers in The Mandalorian (Credit: Disney)

Weathers will play Greef Karga, the leader of the guild of bounty hunters, who hires Pedro Pascal's the lone gunfighter for a special mission.

Also starring Gina Carano, Nick Nolte, Giancarlo Esposito, Taika Waititi, Bill Burr and Werner Herzog, and helmed by Jon Favreau, it is set to debut on November 12, when Disney+ launches.